Song Anbang was packaging the braised delicacies in the main room when he happened to look this way. Lin Erxi was immediately embarrassed and quickly wiped her mouth, calling out to her mother:

"Mom, I'm a grown woman now, can you please stop hitting me on the head all the time?"

Sister-in-law Lin was amused by her: "You still know you're a grown woman? You're as wild as a boy all day long. People who don't know better would think I gave birth to a boy instead of a daughter."

After Sister-in-law Lin said that, Song Anxin, Old Mrs. Song, and the children all laughed.

Lin Dongzi nodded blankly and said, "Yes, sometimes I even want to call my second sister 'second brother'."

Everyone burst into laughter. Lin Erxi, seeing that her uncle Anbang was also laughing at her, blushed with embarrassment.

"Lin Dongzi, what are you saying! You deserve a beating! I'll teach you a lesson today."

Lin Dongzi ran all over the yard, calling out, "Mother, Fengyao Fenghe... Brother, come save me!"

The courtyard was instantly filled with joy, and Sister-in-law Lin could only smile helplessly.

We had agreed to celebrate together tonight, so Song Anxin had the younger children busy themselves in the main room while she, Sister-in-law Mei Zilin, and her mother went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

The dinner was quite lavish, featuring braised pork belly, steamed spare ribs with rice flour, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, radish and pork bone soup, stuffed tofu, minced meat with mushrooms, and more... There were also drinks, though the younger ones couldn't drink.

Song Anxin picked up the wine in her hand and toasted Uncle Bai: "Uncle Bai, I'll toast you first. Without your skills, this threshing machine and blower could never have been made. Otherwise, how could I have received these rewards? I also thank you for helping me make connections with the magistrate. Without further ado, I'll drink this cup."

As she spoke, Song Anxin downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, thinking to herself that the wine was really weak. For someone like her who wasn't much of a drinker, this was nothing.

Old Man Bai, holding a wine cup, chuckled and said, "Mrs. Fengnian, you flatter me. There are many famous masters and craftsmen in our Great Yin Dynasty. If it weren't for me, other carpenters would have figured it out. It's just that I was fortunate enough to receive your guidance first. As for that old magistrate, I won't say much. Mrs. Fengnian is so generous, I'll drink it too."

Song Anxin raised another glass of wine and said, "Brother, sister-in-law, Anbang, you've worked hard these past few days. I'd like to toast you both as well."

Brother Lin and his wife looked embarrassed. They didn't know how much money they had earned from their younger brother and sister-in-law, and all their hard work was for their own benefit. As for Song Anbang, he was even more self-satisfied. He was already living off his sister's family, and she even taught him. Besides, she paid him wages. What was this little bit of work to him?

Grandma Song looked at Song Anxin with loving smiles in her eyes. Her daughter had really changed for the better. She was no longer the willful girl she used to be. She had become sensible.

And so, Song Anxin and her family happily enjoyed their celebratory dinner.

"Mom, the dishes you and my sister-in-law made are absolutely delicious! They taste just as good as what we had at the restaurant for lunch," Lin Fengyao said, his mouth greasy with food.

Lin Fenghe also said, "Fourth brother is right. Mother, I think you and sister-in-law could open a restaurant. With you two in charge of the kitchen, there will definitely be many customers."

Ah Si said, "Yes, yes, I told you before that I would definitely line up if you opened a restaurant. Aunt, you have earned a lot now, and you have also received rewards from above. I think you can open a restaurant. It will definitely be more profitable than it is now."

Lin Fengshou perked up at the news. He had been tempted by the sight of the restaurant packed with guests earlier that day. His sister-in-law and mother's cooking was just as good, so why couldn't his family have their own restaurant?

He looked at his mother and said, "Mother, Ah Si and Feng He's suggestion is good, what do you think?"

At the dinner table, everyone looked at Song Anxin, and they also felt that the food they cooked at home could rival that of restaurants.

Song Anxin pretended to think for a moment, then slowly said, "Hmm... Mother also thinks you are right."

The younger children's eyes lit up immediately. Could their family also own a restaurant in the county?!

Song Anxin changed the subject again: "But now is not the time. Mother will open it when the time is right."

A hint of disappointment couldn't be hidden in everyone's eyes.

Lin Erxi couldn't help but ask, "Second Aunt, why isn't it the right time yet?"

"Because there are still some things that aren't ready yet."

Lin Fengnian suddenly remembered something: "Mother, is it that bag of chili seeds?"

Song Anxin blinked: "You got it right, Fengnian, you're getting smarter and smarter. Although our family's food is pretty good, if we want to stand out and make a name for ourselves among so many restaurants, we still need to have some unique features. So Fengnian, you have a big task ahead of you. Next spring, help your mother plant these chili peppers well."

When Lin Fengnian heard his mother praise him and entrust him with such an important task, he realized that farming was really that important. He was overjoyed and excitedly took Meizi's hand, which Song Mei immediately returned.

"Mother, don't worry, I will plant it carefully."

Song Anxin: "......" This young couple is forbidden from showing affection at the dinner table.

Everyone was immediately intrigued by this novel chili pepper and asked Song Anxin to describe what it looked like and tasted like.

Song Anxin patiently explained everything to her.

“Fengnian’s mother, now that you mention it, I’m tempted to try this chili pepper. It seems I’m even less likely to leave Linjia Village now, hehehe…” said Old Man Bai.

“Master, let’s not leave. I love it here. The food is delicious and the fun is great. It’s much more comfortable than staying in Kyoto,” said Ah Si.

Everyone was excitedly discussing the chili peppers and didn't pay attention to what Ah Si was saying, but Song Anxin did notice and thought to herself that Old Man Bai really did know the county magistrate in the capital.

After a satisfying dinner, Old Man Bai, slightly tipsy and in high spirits, took Ah Si for a walk along the river to watch the sunset.

The younger children also went to the ancestral hall to teach or study.

Meanwhile, Song Anxin, Old Mrs. Song, and Brother Lin and Sister-in-law Lin were drinking tea in the main room. Song Anxin also told them about her encounter with her sister-in-law Lin Taohua in the county.

"Peach Blossom, how are you doing, Peach Blossom?" Brother Lin's honest face revealed his concern.

Sister-in-law Lin, too, looked distressed as if she had just remembered something: "Peach Blossom...Peach Blossom, the family has wronged her..."

If her family hadn't been so poor at the time, they wouldn't have let her go to the county town to become someone's concubine.

Song Anxin didn't know how to comment on her sister-in-law's current situation, since on the surface she seemed to be doing quite well in the Liu family.

She could only comfort them, saying, "Peach Blossom looks quite good, and Mingyue is also very well-behaved. Peach Blossom is pregnant now, and the Liu family seems to value her highly. Don't worry, Master Liu even said he'd send Peach Blossom to visit us."